Josanna Vaz, one of the first black Brazilians to star in an American film, shines in Prime Video’s super production “Musica”, alongside Rudy Mancuso and Camila Mendes. With a consolidated career abroad, especially in New York theater, Josanna plans to bring her international success back to Brazil with the show “Riven”. This project, which tells the story of women garbage collectors, was directed by Marina Zurita and received critical acclaim in the New York theater scene.
Since moving to New York in 2013 to study with Ron Stetson, the same mentor as Viola Davis, Josanna has stood out for her art. Born in Minas Gerais, she began her career in the group Nós do Morro and graduated in performing arts at UFMG. In Brazil, she gained recognition for her performances in “Cinco Vezes Favela-Agora Por Nós Aléms” and “Mais Vezes Favela”, both produced by Cacá Diegues, and in Record soap operas such as “Ribeirão do Tempo” and “Os Mutantes”.
In addition to her performance in “Musica”, where she sings her lines in maracatu rhythm, Josanna is part of the female group “Samba das Carolinas”, which pays homage to the author Carolina Maria de Jesus. The film marks a significant step in his career, and music from the scene can be found on Spotify, further highlighting his multifaceted talent.
Josanna Vaz continues to be an inspiring figure, breaking barriers and bringing Brazilian culture to the international stage. His next project, “Riven”, promises to impact the Brazilian public in the same way it conquered New York, reaffirming his commitment to art and representation.
You started your career in Brazil, with important work on television and cinema. What was the transition like to act in Hollywood and participate in big productions like “Musica”?
I came to New York and started studying at The Neighborhood Playhouse, a school that teaches the Meisner technique. I continued the course with Professor Ron Stetson, the same professor who trained Viola Davis. He is an incredible master. I started in theater on the Downtown Scene also known as off Broadway, and did a lot of independent film. I have a profile on Actors Access, which is a platform for actors here, and through it I received an invitation to the Música test and I passed.
In “Musica”, you play a Brazilian character and incorporate cultural elements such as maracatu into your performance. What was this process of connecting with your culture like in an environment as distinct as Hollywood?
The film takes place in a Brazilian community in Newark, New Jersey, where Rudy grew up. It was incredible to be part of this story, to connect with the Brazilian community here, this is the first film to talk about the Brazilian community specifically, with its traditions and particularities… It was very rewarding!
You mentioned the show “Riven”, or “Ruptura”, which was a success in New York and now you plan to bring it to Brazil. How did the idea for this project come about and what message do you hope to convey through it?
Marina Zurita, director of the project, in 2021 interviewed the waste pickers from the Filadelfia cooperative in São Paulo. Marina is very connected with environmental and human issues, the embryo of this piece comes from this research and the inspiration she got from reading Mother Courage by Bertold Brecht. She invited me and Laila Garroni in 2022, to improvise texts and actions of the two characters based on the interviews.
The message I hope to convey? It’s a little difficult to answer this question, the artist creates the work for its existence, the identification belongs to the viewer. But for me, Ruptura talks about the immensity of individual universes that intersect and how we ignore most of these universes due to preconceptions. But they exist and they know about our intimacy. Ruptura is a story of humanity.
In your projects, you frequently highlight themes such as representation and inclusion. How do you see the role of art and film in promoting these issues, especially for minorities and marginalized communities?
I think the function of art is to observe the time in which it exists and is being conceived. Art tells the story of a people so that past mistakes are not repeated. It is the purest expression of the human being. While it entertains, its sole function is not to be entertainment. That’s why fascists don’t like art, and attack it vehemently.
You are one of the first black Brazilian actresses to work in Hollywood. What challenges have you faced along this journey and how do you believe your journey can inspire other people?
I think the biggest challenges were with myself, loving myself and believing in myself every day, you know? The world has been telling me that I’m not welcome since I was little, so the work to be done is not to believe that and move on. And always, always remember that our ancestors built a beautiful path for us to be sure that we have not only the right, but the honor of walking along it. We are honorable and Divine.
In addition to acting, you are also involved in musical projects, such as “Samba das Carolinas”. How do samba and Brazilian music influence your art and your personal life in the United States?
Samba das Carolinas is a Project by Priscila Santana to honor Carolina Maria de Jesus and so many other female samba dancers that exist in our samba. Samba is part of me, it comes from my ancestors, whenever it’s very cold in New York, it’s samba that certainly warms our hearts. And it takes root, samba reminds us of who we are and that is very important!
You mentioned facing racism and xenophobia when migrating to the United States. How did these experiences shape your view of art and your identity as a Brazilian and black artist?
Once I went to Tarsila do Amaral’s exhibition and at the entrance to the exhibition there was this quote from her: “I want to be the painter of my country.” This phrase touched me a lot, and I started to think about how much Brazilian culture, which is mostly Indigenous and African, is spread throughout the world by white people, who yes, are Brazilian and this culture is theirs too, but why not give it to the people originators of this culture the right to spread it? From this thought, I connected more and more with my roots, and discovered myself as an observer of a non-mixed culture, and how this cultural identity is extremely necessary for any human being. The being without cultural identity goes after culture to appropriate it, and by appropriating it, it kills and enslaves. Because he has no contact with his own roots, he becomes lost, as Sobonfu Somé explains wonderfully in the book “The Spirit of Intimacy.” And that’s how I discovered and approached the art of performance. From the observation of the society in which I find myself (an extremely divided society), from my point of view rooted in Black and Original Brazil. And it is from there that I express myself.
What are your future plans in acting and art? Are there any specific roles or projects you still want to explore?
Future plans in art? Continue, art is immortal and infinite. I have a performance project, which I really want to explore, but it is still in terms of ideas. And I want to make Brazilian cinema. I love Brazilian cinema! The most concrete projects that are already underway are the play Ruptura, the play Cariño Malo, the band Samba das Carolinas and the performance Contos.
How do you see the future of representation of Brazilian and black artists in Hollywood and the global film industry? What changes would you like to see happen in the coming years?
The changes I want to see are black women with dark skin and non-standard bodiesEurocentric in leading roles. And also my trans sisters. I want to see the future with optimism, knowing that little by little the world is discovering that Brazil is the largest population of African descent outside of Africa, discovering that all of South America is populated by us too, and that our ancestors created culture and ways of speaking the language. So I think it will be brilliant, and each of us will open doors for those to come, in an ancestral movement that comes from the deepest feeling of love.
Follow Josanna Vaz onInstagram